6 July (Sun) 10.00am-4.00pm Family Fun and Sporting Day, AA School, Page 27 St Mary’s Church, 8.00pm Eagle Pub Quiz, Abbotts Ann 7 July (Mon) 12.30pm Way Inn Lunch in St. Peter’s Room. The Revd. David Broad 8 July (Tues) 12.30pm Meadow Room Lunch at All Saints’. Rector The Rectory, Upper 352906 9 July (Wed) 7.00pm The Wednesday Bridge Club meets in GCVC [email protected] 7.30pm Abbotts Ann Vision Community Energy Project AAWMH – P 9 (HIS DAY OFF IS SATURDAY) 7.30pm Parish Council meets in UC Memorial Hall. 10 July (Thurs) 8.30pm Songs and Sonnets of Shakespeare, the Quire, Winch. Cath. 11 July (Fri) Final date for receipt of hard copy (hand-written or typed) for the August Churchwardens Gordon Howard, 710830 2014 Abbotts Ann Magazine. Swaledale, 4 St Mary’s Meadow, Little Ann Final date for receipt of hard copy (hand-written or typed) for the August 2014 Clatfords Magazine. Sally Dashwood 710640 6.15pm AA Players, The Show Must Go On, AA School - Page 17 1 The Bakery, Dunkirt Lane 12 July (Sat) 5.45pm AA Players, The Show Must Go On, AA School - Page 17 Details of church officers and activities can 13 July (Sun) The Fourth Sunday after Trinity – full service details – Page 2 also be found on the village website at: 9.30am Live Wires at All Saints’ http://www.little-ann.co.uk/church 8.00pm Eagle Pub Quiz, Abbotts Ann 15 July (Tues ) 12.00 noon Deadline for the receipt of copy by email for the Choir Practice THURSDAYS 7.45PM, ST PETER’S, GOODWORTH August 2014 Abbotts Ann Magazine. CLATFORD [email protected] 12.00 noon Deadline for the receipt of copy by email for the Bell-Ringing Practice THURSDAYS 7.30-9.00PM, ST MARY’S, ABBOTTS ANN August 2014 Clatfords Magazine. [email protected] Tower Captain: Dudley Alleway 710646 1.00pm Lunchtime concert in Winchester Cathedral 3.30pm Cord Cream Tea, 7 Manor Close, - Page 5 7.30pm WI meets in Goodworth Clatford Village Parochial Church Council Club – Members’ Summer Supper 16 July (Wed) 7.00pm The Wednesday Bridge Club meets in GCVC Secretary Mrs Jo Brookes 07967 7.30pm Upper Clatford WI meets in Upper Clatford Memorial Hall 3 Slessor Close, Road 484581 17 July (Thurs) to Sunday 20th July 10.00am Southern Cathedrals Festival at Win. Cath. Andrew Shaw, Whitecroft, Duck Street 18 July (Fri) 10.00am Goodworth Clatford WI Walking Group Treasurer 710197 19 July (Sat) 7.30pm Fauré Requiem, Harmonium Singers,St Mary’s Church, Andover 20 July (Sun) The Fifth Sunday after Trinity – full service details – Page 2 Parish Magazine - www.abbottsannmagazine.co.uk 9.30am Live Wires at All Saints’ Editor - Andrea Jackson 710630 8.00pm Eagle Pub Quiz, Abbotts Ann 23 July (Wed) Clatford and Abbotts Ann schools finish for the summer break. [email protected] 5 Timothy’s Field, Abbotts Ann 7.00pm The Wednesday Bridge Club meets in GCVC Advertising - Rollo Wilson 710899

7.45pm Clatford Valley Garden Club meets in UC Memorial Hall [email protected] Jubilee Oak Cottage 26 July (Sat) 10.00am-4.00pm WWI Exhibition in AAWMH - Page 7 27 July (Sun) The Sixth Sunday after Trinity – full service details – Page 2 For magazine deadlines please refer to the Benefice Diary. 9.30am Live Wires at All Saints’ MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS 8.00pm Eagle Pub Quiz, Abbotts Ann 28 July (Mon) 12.00noon Goodworth Clatford WI Members’ Lunch Have your magazine delivered free of charge (Abbotts Ann only). A yearly 29 July (Tues) Clatford Valley Garden Club Summer Outing to Nymans subscription is £6.00. For deliveries outside Abbotts Ann, we offer a postal 6.15pm “An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh”The Old Rectory, Abbotts Ann subscription service if 12 SAE’s are provided. If you would like to take out a 30 July (Wed) 7.00pm The Wednesday Bridge Club meets in GCVC subscription, please contact Pam Lytle on 01264 710468, email: [email protected] 31 July (Thurs) Abbotts Ann WI – Cookery Demonstration, Waitrose, Salisbury. or write to Pam at The White House, Abbotts Ann. 32

HIBBERT CUP 2014 SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE IN JULY 2014 This cup is awarded annually at the Abbotts Ann Fete which this year is on Please note change of services and times at all churches. Saturday 30th August. It is awarded for outstanding, voluntary, unpaid Date: St Mary’s Duties: contribution to the Abbotts Ann community in honour of Basil Hibbert, who Sunday 29th June Feast of St. Peter himself made an outstanding contribution to our community. A bench in 8.00 Holy Communion All Saints’ memory of Basil stands outside the village shop. This year’s winner will be the 10.00 Benefice Patronal St Peter’s 13 th holder of the cup. Festival Eucharist 6.00 Evensong St Mary’s Mrs S Dashwood The decision is made by the Trustees of the War Memorial Hall, which Basil

th chaired for many years. In making the decision, the Trustees also consult with Sunday 6th July 14 Sunday of the year the current holder of the Cup (2013/2014 Ray Lucas). 8.00 Holy Communion St Peter’s 10.00 Benefice Family Eucharist All Saints’ All nominations (including all past unsuccessful nominations) are considered 6.00 Evensong St Mary’s Mr/Mrs G Platford with great care, and any village resident may make a nomination. Please send

th your nominations, with a description of the outstanding contribution made, to Sunday 13th July 15 Sunday of the year Graham Stallard, Secretary and Trustee, Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall, 8.00 Holy Communion All Saints’ Rose Cottage, 86 Little Ann Road, SP11 7NW – or email to 9.30 Eucharist St Mary’s Mr/Mrs G Howard [email protected] The closing date for nominations is 16 th 11.15 Benefice Matins St Peter’s August, two weeks before the fete. Please remember that your nomination 6.00 Evensong St Mary’s Mrs S Dashwood must be yours alone – no groups please - so that it is absolutely confidential. Sunday 20th July 16 th Sunday of the year Please keep your nomination secret as it would be most inappropriate in our 8.00 Holy Communion St Mary’s Mrs N Keene Abbotts Ann family for the names of unsuccessful nominees to be known, and 10.00 Eucharist St Peter’s to be open for discussion. 10.00 Parish Morning Service Abbotts Ann hall Mrs S George Graham Stallard 6.00 Evensong All Saints’

Sunday 27th July 17 th Sunday of the year 8.00 Holy Communion St Mary’s Miss W Casson BENEFICE DIARY - JULY 2014 10.00 Benefice Eucharist All Saints’ 6.00 Evensong St Peter’s 1 July (Tues) (Until Friday 1st August) 9.30am to 5.00pm The River Itchen from Source to Sea, exhibition in Winchester Cathedral Sunday 3rd August Feast of the Transfiguration 1.00pm Lunchtime concert in Winchester Cathedral 8.00 Holy Communion St Peter’s 7.00pm Goodworth Clatford Parish Council meets in GCVC 10.00 Benefice Eucharist All Saints’ 2 July (Wed) 7.30pm Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association AGM in AAWMH Page 9 6.00 Evensong St Mary’s Mr/Mrs G Platford 7.00pm The Wednesday Bridge Club (Partnership Meeting) in GCVC 3 July (Thurs) 10.30am Goodworth Clatford WI Coffee Morning Monday 4th August National Commemoration of World War 1 7.00pm Abbotts Ann Parish Council meets in Abbotts Ann Memorial Hall. 11.00 Service of Commemoration St Mary’s 4 July (Fri) 7.30pm Winchester Festival Opening Concert in Winchester Cathedral 2.00 Service of Commemoration St Peter’s Hat Fair, Winchester Cathedral Outer Close (and Saturday 5th July) 3.30 Service of Commemoration All Saints’ 5 July (Sat) 1.00pm Clatford School Fete 3.00pm Winchester & Portsmouth Guild of Bellringers service at St. Anyone unable to carry out their duty and who cannot exchange with Peter’s, followed by Annual General Meeting in GCVC 3.45pm another sidesman please contact Kate Bennett or Wendy Casson on 712028. 7.30pm Annual Hog Roast at Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall - Page 29 Please note that services are provisional as changes can sometimes be made 8.00pm Winchester Festival, Carmina in the Prior’s Hall at short notice. Please check the Sunday Link Sheet. 6 July (Sun) The Third Sunday after Trinity – full service details – Page 2 9.30am Live Wires at All Saints’ 2 31

These are not Images

I suppose that we try to make sense of huge catastrophic events like war through small personal connections. On Monday, August 4 th in the Benefice, along with other ceremonies nationwide, we will hold a simple service in each of our churches (11.00am St Mary’s, 2.00pm St Peter’s and 3.30pm All Saints’) to mark the 100 th anniversary of the start of the first world war. To help people feel connected to these events each village is invited to prepare a wreath made up of flowers from their own gardens. If you would like to take part please get in touch with your village church.

At the National Portrait Gallery the exhibition, The Great War in Portraits, made these terrible events of war more personal by literally enabling you to look into people’s faces. I had not for example, seen the face of Gavrilo Princip before, the young man who on June 28 th 1914, along with three other conspirators, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, setting in motion a terrible series of events which brought the world to war. His black and white photograph, a round face with a squat nose, stares at you with wide open eyes. He is sickly looking, despairing, a suicide assassinator, part of a nationalist plot orchestrated by Serbian intelligence, someone who might today be called a terrorist. A whole wall of smaller photographs of people involved in the war, some known others not, from all sides of the conflict, was especially haunting. There were spies, conscientious objectors, poets, soldiers from all continents, Fete volunteers wanted !! airmen, sailors and nurses. They all appeared, in other circumstances, just like the faces you might look into in the busy London street outside. But they were The fete needs your help. We are looking for a few dressed for war. One face I recognised was Siegfried Sassoon the soldier and more volunteers to help on the stalls and the games. If poet. A priest friend of mine later in Sassoon’s life helped prepare him for you think you would like to get involved on this fun filled reception into the Catholic Church. Sassoon famously spoke out against the day please call Trish Wallis on 710918. war and documented its tragedy. The images in his poem Attack read today like a film:

At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun In the wild purple of the glow’ring sun, Fete Stalls Smouldering through spouts of drifting smoke that shroud We have tables available at the fete for stall holders to hire at £15. The menacing scarred slope; and, one by one, Contact Anne Emerson to book your place on (01264) 710851 Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire. The barrage roars and lifts. Then, clumsily bowed With bombs and guns and shovels and battle-gear, 30 3

Men jostle and climb to, meet the bristling fire. being urged to make their own wishes known to their families.

Lines of grey, muttering faces, masked with fear, As the Village Hall is due to undergo some refurbishment later this month, our They leave their trenches, going over the top, meeting on the 31st July will be at Waitrose in Salisbury for a Seasonal While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists, Cookery Demonstration. And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists, Sharon King Founders in mud. O Jesus, make it stop

What will all our commemorations mean in the face of our violent century, May Plant Sale with war replacing war and the Middle East currently and savagely on fire? A Many thanks to everyone who helped at and/or donated towards the plant sale contemporary Syrian poet, Golan Haji, in Shooting Sportsmen, remind us that in May. Despite the weather, which forced us to sell the plants indoors, we the victims of the tragedy of war are never just pictures and the true picture had our second best year ever, raising nearly £630. This money is used to may never be truly known. fund the Produce Show at the fete (prizes, stationery etc), and any left over They killed the window and the sister who looked from it, money then goes in to the pot for redistribution to village associations.

Neither the neighbours’ cows survived Nor the streetlamp. Village Fete Flower, Produce & Craft Show: They spat in the spring and ripped off the lens- Saturday August 30th The tearful sanguine eye of life, The schedule for this year is available, and can be found in the village shop & The eye of hope. the Eagle, as well as directly from myself via email, or from Anne Emerson & With knives they tore off the used couch, Polly Whyte. It will contain details of classes, how to enter, judging times The suitcase and the rope-bound blanket. etc. They crucified the carpenter, strangled the gold finch and slaughtered For more information contact Alison Barham on the singer. 07826 061932 or 01566 777561 Email [email protected] They burnt the barley spikes, the books and bicycles Then they lay down on playground grass and snoozed off. These are not images. They are the guardians of pictures. © David Broad. Rector. July 2014. Annual Hog Roast July ST MARY’S CHURCH FLOWERS - AND HOLY DUSTING ROTA Saturday 5th July at 7.30pm

We are so grateful to you all for giving up your time to the Church.

Here is the rota. If the dates are inconvenient and you are unable to change with someone else, please ring Sylvia Burson (710852) for flowers and Jill Tayler (710201) for dusting. With live music from

Dates: Flowers: Dusting: Thames Valley Jazz Band 20 Jun - 3 Jul Elizabeth Howard Pauline Cooper 4 Jul - 17 Jul Judith Newman Liz Tout 18 Jul - 31 Jul Charlotte Pearce Charlotte Pearce To be held in the grounds of Abbotts Ann 1 Aug - 14 Aug Pat Keene Gill Page To be held in the War Memorial Hall 15 Aug - 28 Aug Gwen Pollard Alex Pugh 29 Aug - 11 Sep Lillian Pierce Jill Tayler 12 Sep - 25 Sep Sue Hancock Ann Hopwood Tickets £16 from the Village Shop 4 29

ABBOTTS ANN WOMEN’S INSTITUTE St Mary’s Church, Abbotts Ann in support of… MAY 2014

The month of May seemed to go very quickly, despite there being five Thursdays in the month, and here I am again attempting to reduce our activities to a few paragraphs (you should be so lucky!).

We have done all the usual things, mostly in , as this was the A front line Christian charity helping the victims of war chosen location for our walk, followed by lunch at the Cricketers and the worldwide, from Vietnam in the 1960’s to Cambodia, Supper Club met at the Plough. The Lunch Club, however, ventured further afield and met at the Fox & Hounds in Crawley. Burundi, Chad and South Sudan today.

We have also participated in Federation events; firstly the Darts Tournament. Four of us travelled to the Dolphin at Hursley where we met Otterbourne WI. Wendy & Dudley Alleway This match was played in true WI camaraderie, but unfortunately we lost invite you to enjoy a narrowly. Next we tested our brains in the Anton Danebury Group round of the annual quiz and tied for a credible third place.

We have also had a tour of the notorious megashed, now occupied and run by Cream Tea the Co-operative Group. Our guide for the day, Bruce Welsh, gave us an At 7 Manor Close, Abbotts Ann introduction to the company and site and there were plenty of statistics to on Tuesday, July 15 th ; 3.30-5.00p.m. absorb (or not!). Our members were particularly interested to hear the building tel. 710646 paid homage to the previous use of the site, as it was built to resemble an aviation hangar and each team is named after a fighter plane. There is every As usual, the Fun Club will help us host the event effort to minimise vehicle movements, all waste that can be recycled is brought and will tell us about their activities this year back to Andover for processing and grey water is used to flush toilets. Although the Co-op does not own the nearby solar panels, they do have access to them and the National Grid purchases electricity at certain times of the day. Everyone Welcome Thankfully, it was then time to move and see the operation for ourselves. We began in the ambient section where "pickers" were selecting stock for distribution to their many stores, in a temperature of 3˚ centigrade (very cold) and then on to the chiller where it was 1˚ centigrade, but we were acclimatised From The Registers by now and were quite blasé about it all. No time for the freezer (thank Holy Baptism goodness) and then it was time to leave. Jack Hugo Pullen whose Baptism took place at All Saints' on 25th May.

It was our Annual Meeting this month and thanks were given to outgoing Jemima Evie Shorter whose Baptism took place at All Saints' on 1st June. President Sue George and Secretary Cecilia Cotton, who were presented with Eliana May and Leon Francis Gerard Munday whose Baptisms took place at bouquets as a small gesture of appreciation for all their hard work. Both gave All Saints' on 8th June. reports of the last 12 months and Sue thanked all members for their support Holy Matrimony during her term of office. Subsequently, Kate Bennett was voted in as Edward Hillman and Emma Spencer whose Wedding took place at All Saints' President and she will be ably supported by Lynne Lucas as Secretary. on 31st May. We also had to discuss the NFWI's annual resolution, which this year referred If you do not wish to have information from The Registers published, to the difficult subject of organ donation. On this occasion our members are please contact Gill Palmer on 710446 28 5

DEANERY CONFIRMATION SERVICE

This year All Saints played host to the whole of the Andover Deanery when we welcomed Bishop John Dennis to our Confirmation service on 11th May. It was a particular pleasure this year for us given that four of those confirmed Abbotts Ann Fete came from our own Benefice, three of whom were youngsters from Clatford Primary School

In his address Bishop John spoke about how things change remarking that he Abbotts Ann Fete will be held on Saturday 30th August. We will be himself was always known as the Bishop and father of...... however nowadays collecting around the village throughout the summer for the stalls listed he is always referred to as the Bishop and also father of Hugh Dennis [the below. Please look out for further notices through your door indicating entertainer for those of us who might not know] a point which was not lost on collection dates and times. For your convenience we list the contact our congregation given his highly amusing, if somewhat different, kind of names of those making collections: Cake stall address as he walked around the church giving David and the churchwardens Bottle tombola Trish Wallis 710918 organisational nightmares. However the impact of his homily was not lost Aly Godman Bric-a-brac either. He offered all those taking part real insights into life - a life lived to the 710633 Lisa Hillier 710231 full Anne Emerson Smash Crockery

Books 710851 Sarah Kirby At the end of the service we were able to share with all those who had come 710044 from across the Deanery the kind of welcome we always have on offer at All Hannah Church Saints - one of warmth and Christian fellowship. 710584 Thank you for your support.

BENEFICE EASTER RETREAT DAY- HILFIELD MAY 31ST 2014

It may not have been the largest group from across the Benefice but what we Family Fun and Sporting Day lacked in numbers we more than made up for in the quality of the day. Taking as our theme the reading from St John's gospel chapter 20 at Abbotts Ann Primary School ''.....the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for Sunday 6th July 2014 - 10am - 4pm fear.....and Jesus came and stood among them and said Peace be with you''

Such simple words we had all heard a million times before but had never really 10km on-and off-road run grasped the full enormity of what these words held.. We were then ably led 5km walk/run Arena entertainment Fully supervised 1km obstacle run/ by Lyndon, one of the community at Hilfield, into the ideas of living behind locked doors. Why do we live behind locked doors? Who is responsible? BBQ breakfast and lunch walk Have we done this to protect ourselves from our own vulnerabilities OR Sponsored trim trail walk/run Sporting demonstrations conversely have we allowed ourselves to be locked away from and by For more details: others? What do we mean by peace? Is it our own peace which is personal to Refreshments and bar www.abbottsann.hants.sch.uk/pta us or do we mean a deeper peace which affects the whole of humanity. Side stalls & activities Questions we could all find different answers to. But what is the right answer? Does anyone have or know any eternal truths? Answers on a post card...... Entry forms in the Village Shop, School & The Eagle or to enter online visit www.runnersworld.co.uk/abbottsann10km Special thanks to David for organising this for us. Why not join us next time? 6 27

There’s another important appointment to mention. Every Parish Council has BENEFICE ALL AGE CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP to have a Treasurer, officially entitled RFO (Responsible Financial Officer), GOOD FRIDAY 18TH APRIL 2014 who is very often the same person as the Clerk. But the Council has kindly let this Clerk pass the financial hat (which never fitted him very comfortably) to Once again All Saints played host to the annual children's workshop day on Rosemary Griffiths. As a qualified Chartered Secretary she’s not in the least Good Friday where this year twenty one young people and their families joined daunted by the task of moving the Parish accounts, and their accompanying together to make Easter decorations, the now traditional Easter Garden which electronic communications, out of the pen and paper era. For which relief, as seems to get better each year, the Easter biscuits (always a firm favourite Shakespeare said, much thanks. I’m sure that Rosemary also knows the amongst our younger children) and of course the annual chance given to the difference between a hedge fund and a hedge bund. Which brings me back to adults to get 'messy' and DO. the sting in the tail of this little discourse. This year we welcomed five children and families from St Peter's seven from At ground level, the responsibility for maintenance of pavements and footpaths St Mary's and the rest from All Saints making it a truly Benefice event. Who lies with the County Council. Though we have often taken direct action, the could forget the sight of one little chap from Abbotts Ann covered in flour as Parish Council is not actually in charge of the surface. And neither the County he 'made' his biscuit for the umpteenth time nor the lad from nor the Parish Council is responsible for hedges alongside pavements and Goodworth Clatford who said, "Can I come again next year?" footpaths. Their maintenance is the responsibility of the owners of the hedge; Special thanks must go to Barbara Watts and Mary Dunn for all their sterling and a fence can become an offence unless they ensure that their hedge doesn’t work in the kitchen with the biscuit making. To David and Gill Broad for the encroach on a pavement or obstruct those using a public path. So please don’t creative and artistic input and to those countless grown ups who got messy and think it’s anyone else’s job to look after the outside of your hedge. At this time DID of maximum growth shrubs can sprout at a rate of half a yard a week. Robert Tannahill would have been very late for his date with his ain dear Somebody if The BENEFICE FAMILY EUCHARIST is alive and well and is happening his flow’ry hedge had been allowed to go as wild as some I could name. OK, I every FIRST SUNDAY of the month at ALL SAINTS. where a warm won’t, yet. welcome always waits for YOU. So if you can play an instrument, sing or just want to listen to those who can why not come along? What's stopping you? Adrian Stokes, Clerk Susan Oram PLANNING SUMMARY PLANNING APPLICATIONS Abbotts Ann in World War 1 – an exhibition AA No TV No Proposal Recommendation

P14/10 14/00949/ 79, Little Ann Road FULLN Extension etc

PLANNING DECISIONS AA No TV No Proposal Decision Abbotts Ann Parish Council supported by County

P14/07 14/00584/ Robins, Salisbury Road Permission Council invite you to come and see how the village was affected FULLN Rear Extension by the Great War (and vice versa) P14/09 14/00789/ Marbury, Cattle Lane Permission Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall FULLN Extensions etc Saturday 26th July 10am – 4pm P14 09a 14/00596/ Minaki Permission Admission free FULLN Move oil tank The exhibition will also be on display at the Museum of Army Flying, P14/11 14/01074/ Great Wood Application required Saturday 2nd - Sunday 3rd August and at FONN New tracks (notification) Abbotts Ann Village Fete Saturday 30th August

26 7

ENTOMOLOGY COMES TO ABBOTTS ANN planted on top of an embankment of earth, and if you want to see these, edge The second weekend of June saw the appearance of some strange structures in your way past Stonehenge and head for Devon, where you will find an the fields opposite The Poplar Farm Inn. For those of you who were curious, incredible 30,000 miles of them according to someone who claims to know. these are fly traps, used by entomologists for monitoring (or even reducing) fly The fact that many of the typical narrow Devon lanes have one on each side populations. These traps were first developed in Africa to catch tsetse flies. makes that county a boom market for wet’ndry sandpaper and T-cut, for But here, our target was another aggressive biter, the horsefly ( Tabanus, erasing the inevitable scratches on car doors. Still, they do ensure that coaches Hybomitra, Haematopota ). The trap appearance, supplemented by an odour, full of “Grockles” (Devon-speak for tourists) can’t get to some of the best attracts the flies. The bright blue cloth wings are seen by flies, which fly beaches in the South-west. towards the trap, and are then attracted to the black cloth at the I suspect that if you laid all the domestic hedges round the gardens of centre. Entering the trap they then move upwards, through a cone, towards the end to end they would add up to many times the mileage of the longest hedge beckoning daylight at the top. This leads them into a small cage, made of a in history. This ran right across the sub-continent of India. It was an polythene bag. There, they remain to be counted. impenetrable 2,300-mile long thicket planted by the British and guarded by Those of you who persevered this far, may remember that odour was 12,000 troops to enforce the collection of the iniquitous salt tax. This had a lot mentioned. Biting flies are attracted to acetone, the main smell you would to do with the unravelling of the British Empire, but nothing to do with the associate with nail-varnish remover, but which is present in cow attitude that “An Englishman’s home is his castle”. A major product of that breath. And… since the flies are basically looking for blood-filled hosts to attitude is the garden hedge. We may love our neighbour dearly, but we want feed on… cow’s urine works really well too. So next to the traps were a small him to know where we draw the line; from early Victorian times privet and bottle of acetone and a slightly larger one of cow’s urine. And how did we get privacy marched steadily outwards from town centres towards the green the cow’s urine – that is another story... Maybe when you see us in The horizon and suburbia was born. Eagle? Ask for Alex and the two Bobs. Or, for a more in-depth view, simply Before the 20 th century rural villages had plenty of walls, fences and hedges, visit influentialpoints.com . but their purpose was to keep livestock in rather than neighbours out. Now we The Bobs will be back in late August, complete with traps, and hoping that have garden hedges all over the rural scene, but how different they are from the Bernard Griffiths will again kindly permit us to place them in his fields, we’ll monotonous uniformity of suburbia! Thank goodness there’s not much privet, have more to tell. which somehow doesn’t do much for a village, though it was vital in the days Alexandra Shaw plus visiting entomologists of urban smoke and smog, because, like the London Plane-tree, which can shed Robert Dransfield and Robert Brightwell its soot-encrusted bark as well as its leaves, it doesn’t mind how polluted the air is. In a village like ours, where most of the dwellings stand back from the roadside, an amazing variety of hedges enjoy the fresh air along the streets and footpaths. There must be a couple of dozen species of hedge within our curiously-named Village Envelope. Some, especially yews, are pretty old; some of the most attractive are brand new. Though not classed as statutorily Important, these hedges provide an essential enhancement of our surroundings.

The Parish Council has always had a voluntary Footpaths Officer, and we owe a great vote of thanks to Paul Kelly, who has just retired from the post, after spending a huge lot of time and energy taking direct action and chasing up those who ought to be doing so. We are very thankful that Phil Wood has volunteered to carry on the good work. We have also for many years been fortunate to have the services of Trevor Hook, who has just retired. He worked steadily at the essential grass-cutting and at those little jobs around the place that you only notice when they haven’t been done. These are hard acts to follow. 8 25

ABBOTTS ANN PARISH COUNCIL CLERK’S COLUMN - JUNE 2014 Abbotts Ann Vision

Hedges and Edges Community Energy Project

When gloamin’ treads the heels o’ day, And birds sit courin’ on the spray, Alang the flow’ry hedge I stray Andy Molloy To meet mine ain dear somebody.

So sang Robert Tannahill, who had the misfortune of living at the same time as community energy expert

Robert Burns, so his poetic and musical talent was cast into the shade; he will speak and answer questions on what we can do in Abbotts Ann – depended for his living on his day job as a weaver. Well, had you ever heard of him? You will have heard from him however, because the tune of Waltzing Matilda is based on one of his songs. how to reduce your fuel bills Tannahill’s hedge was probably a relatively new one. It was not long since the time of the great enclosures all over the , which, come to think of it, wasn’t all that old itself – there are some cottages here that were built generating energy for the community when Scotland was independent and not particularly friendly to the English Sassenachs, aka Saxons. During the long process of enclosing the old open collective energy purchasing fields of mediaeval times, thousands of miles of hedges were planted to mark the boundaries of new fields and old tracks. Robert must have been straying about this time of year, enjoying the flowering of Blackthorn (Sloe) or Hawthorn (May) just as we have recently. These two trees or shrubs have War Memorial Hall formed the basis of hedges since time immemorial because of their extreme th prickliness and their ability to live for ever if properly managed. Sadly the art Wednesday 9 July at 7.30 of hedging with billhook and sledgehammer has given way to the tractor and flail, though it’s amazing how well they can survive this brutal treatment. By the way, you know we’re advised not to cast a clout till May is out; but who Promoted by Abbotts Ann Green Action for knows whether this means waiting to leave your winter woollies in the cupboard until the end of the month, or when the hawthorns become all Abbotts Ann Vision flow’ry?

The invention of barbed wire and mechanical reapers caused the wholesale ripping up of hedges, and there were no controls until, as recently as 1997, CPRE ran a successful campaign to force the Government to introduce the ABBOTTS ANN VILLAGE SHOP ASSOCIATION - NOTICE OF AGM Hedgerow Regulations. These define a hedgerow as Important if it is over 20 The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 nd July 2014 at metres long and at least 30 years old: woe betide anyone who messes with an 7.30pm in the War Memorial Hall, Abbotts Ann. It is hoped that as many Important Hedgerow without prior permission from the Powers that Be. members as possible will attend. Although the grubber-uppers did enough to cause a drastic reduction in the Any member wishing to stand for election to the Management Committee habitats of all sorts of wildlife, especially smallish birds, they didn’t have time should write to the Secretary (Pam Lytle: email: [email protected] ) two to destroy all the hedgerows in the countryside. So there are quite a lot left, weeks prior to the AGM. including some that may be as old as 600 years. Most ancient hedges were 24 9

ABBOTTS ANN VILLAGE SHOP & POST OFFICE CLATFORD VALLEY GARDENING CLUB

Shop Manager : Georgina Garner At our May meeting RHS Wisley-trained photo journalist John Negus’s talk on summer bedding was informative, entertaining and, at times, challenging as he Deputy Shop Manager : Carol Murphy tested his audience’s knowledge and plant identification skills! Focusing Sub Post Mistress : Maureen Flood mainly on basket and container planting, John encouraged us to be creative and try something different this year. Summertime It is the time of year when the BBQs get dragged out of the shed and fired up. Whatever compost is chosen, water-retaining granules and a slow-release Your village shop can supply you with meats, sausages, burgers and all the fertiliser such as Osmocote should be added. John recommended plug plants salads to accompany your meal. If you are going to the beach or for a walk on as an alternative to growing from seed as it eliminates the pricking out process the Downs then for your picnic we have a new butchery supplier with roast and reduces the risk of plant damage in the early stages. Begonias should be ham. We have quiches available, in family or individual sizes, together with ‘sprouted’ in shallow trays of compost in a warm place in late Winter/early the coleslaw and potato salads to go with them. Spring; the sprouts are then taken as cuttings and grown on for planting out in May. Where large numbers of plants and containers are being displayed, a We have a new line of Olives, in various flavours, in a handy pouch at only micro irrigation system can ease the daily watering load. Flowering plants £1.19. should be dead-headed at least once a week to sustain flowering and given a For you chocoholics, look at the new selection of Lindt chocolates. high potash (tomato) feed weekly to encourage healthy growth and disease

Volunteers resistance. Containers should complement the planting while thoughtful stacking and arrangement can create a tiered, cascade effect. We are still on the lookout for more volunteers for the Shop, and not just bakers and till operators. There are all sorts of jobs around needing willing Supported by well-chosen slides, John identified a range of well-known and hands to carry them out. Please think whether you can spare a few hours less familiar plants and demonstrated some interesting planting combinations during the week and especially on Sundays. For instance - we would like to in his quest to encourage us to make bold choices. Among the less-obvious open later on Friday evenings, but can do so only when we are able to draw up were scented leaved geraniums, nasturtiums, straw (everlasting) flowers and a list of volunteers willing to help serve behind the counter for the extra hours. Ajuga (bugle) with purple foliage and tall blue or pink flower spires. Foliage Speak to Georgina or Carol either in the Shop or on 710230. combinations can be spectacular with such wide variations in height, shape,

Annual General Meeting of the Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association texture and foliage colour available; variegated leaves can be particularly Don't forget the Annual General Meeting of the Abbotts Ann Village Shop effective. Recommendations included the red false castor oil plant Association on Wednesday 2 nd July at 7.30 pm in the War Memorial Hall. ‘Carmencita’ (purple underside to leaves), Centaurina ‘Candidissima’ (silver trailing foliage and yellow flowers) - which looks stunning in a pedestal Enjoy the Summer by shopping in container, Sedum ‘Sieboldii’ (silver-grey and yellow trailing foliage) and dead YOUR VILLAGE SHOP nettle (red and white forms with variegated and serrated leaves). Many vegetables can be both productive and decorative including French and runner ABBOTTS ANN POST OFFICE beans which can have red, white and multi-coloured flowers followed by Summer Travel green, purple, white or blotched seed pods. Holiday Planning; Travel Money (Euros, US Dollars, Turkish Lira in stock in branch , other currencies; next day delivery). Finally, those of us who were quick-witted and knowledgeable enough to answer John’s questions were rewarded with horticultural gifts including two The Post Office also offers Travel Insurance and Travel Money Card Plus delightful books. Post Office Telecoms Post Office HomePhone and Broadband prices are competitive, transparent and Next month’s meeting is on Wednesday 23 rd July at 7.45pm in Upper Clatford easy for customers to understand. Many other telecoms providers offer half Village Hall. Visitors and new members are always welcome. price rental for the first six months and then revert back to their full price, J Hancke 10 23

Trust Fund Raising following Village Hall Meeting which can be confusing for customers. At Post Office it is simple and a great  Since the Public meeting in April we have raised some £11,000 in new value service is offered all year round. funds (including Gift Aid) towards the cost of saving Saint Mary’s by Broadband Essential is £7 per month. with line rental at £13 per month that is re-roofing the chancel and nave. This together with all of the Trust’s just £20 for Broadband Essential with HomePhone. reserves will be some £2,500 short of the total matching funding of Broadband Premium is £10 per month so with line rental at £13 that is £23 for £18,000 which is required as a contribution to the Heritage Lottery both.

Fund Grant being applied for by the Trust and the PCC. (Gillian Changes to Premium Bond Limits Barrett, the Trust Treasurer is playing a key role in this application for National Savings and Investments (NS&I) changed Premium Bonds an emergency repair grant of £250,000 from HLF). If the application is Investment limits as from 1st June. The maximum investment has increased successful, the balance of the Trust’s contribution will be required by from £30,000 to £40,000. September. It would be prudent for the Trust to target raising a total of £5,000 funds over the next 3 months to meet the shortfall and re- Royal Mail Special Stamps establish a small reserve. Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.  The Trust will seek to establish as soon as feasible, a joint grant On Thursday 17 July, six days before the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow application programme with the PCC for the additional projects listed 2014 XX Commonwealth Games, Royal Mail will issue six new Special in the Forshaw report. The estimated cost of these projects is £60,000. Stamps to celebrate the largest sporting and cultural festival that Glasgow and We will need to raise additional matching funds to support successful Scotland has ever hosted. Six of the sports to be competed in Glasgow are applications for grants. celebrated, from a judo throw to a squash rally, to runners battling it out in a  We plan to hold a follow up fund raising meeting in the summer. If marathon. you would like to talk to the Trust members about anything in this Elizabeth Howard - Shop Volunteer article, or make a donation, please get in touch with any of the following: Malcolm Hutchinson : Phone 01264710461 MINIBUS HIRE Susie Thornely : Phone 01264711077 Graham Platford : Phone 01264711164 Tim Seabrook : Phone 01264710353 Would your village organisation be interested in hiring a minibus for a day out? Gillian Barrett : Phone 01264710355 Malcolm Hutchinson A little-publicised fact is that Test Valley Community Services have minibuses available for hire by community groups. They currently have seven vehicles, Fauré Requiem seating 14-17 people. These can be hired for £17 per half day (morning, St Mary’s Church, Andover afternoon or evening) or £34 per full day, plus 70p per mile for the first 100 Saturday 19th July 2014 at 7.30pm miles and 35p per mile for additional miles (fuel included).

Tickets £12 on the door or £10 from Newbury BS, The Lights or choir members Drivers must hold a MiDAS certificate (the nationally recognised qualification for minibus drivers). If you don’t have your own driver, TVCS may be able to EDITOR’S NOTE: supply one, for an extra charge.

All articles printed in the Abbotts Ann Magazine are printed in good faith and For further information see the village website, the folder in the village shop, are not necessarily the views of the Editor. All contributions must be visit www.tvcs.org.uk/ct minibus hire.html , email [email protected] or accompanied by a full name and email address which may be withheld at the phone 01264 356808. Editor’s discretion. The Editor reserves the right to amend all contributions. Julie Moon, Abbotts Ann Vision Transport Project Please support our advertisers; they support the magazine.

22 11

PROGRESS ON THE PILL HILL BROOK St Mary’s Abbotts Ann Fabric Trust

The Rivers Test and Itchen have been regarded for at least a couple of Update Programme centuries as the cradle of fly fishing and their renown is quite literally worldwide. Since Last Magazine Article

I remember years ago holidaying in Austria outside Innsbruck, visiting a fabulous fishing tackle shop in that beautiful city beside the waltzing River

Inn. The manager, delighting as enthusiastic anglers do in talking of their fishing experiences, asked whence I came. “Hampshire”, I replied. “Aahhh”, he responded, glazing over and becoming misty-eyed. “Anywhere near the

River Test?” Replying to my “yes” – “you lucky, lucky man, have you fished it?” At that time, I had not, for an angling duffer such as I had no right nor place upon its hallowed banks.

I am indeed a lucky, lucky man, and curiously I agree with something Prince Charles is supposed to have said, that to be born an Englishman is to win first prize in the lottery of life. I would add, to be born in , and then years later to live in Abbotts Ann in the heart of the Test Valley, is, to an angler, the bonus prize of bonus prizes. What a privilege.

But you don’t have to be an angler to appreciate the beauty and diversity of this great river and its system, and the spectacular beauty and fragility of the Summary of the people’s view on the church from the survey English countryside through which it meanders and flows. But being an angler the Trust carried out after the January 2014 Magazine article. does remind you that great rivers such as these need great care and great management, for to survive with apparently such easy charm, they have to be run as a finely balanced business for future generations to enjoy them as we are  54 Completed forms were returned. Nobody returned with any No’s privileged to-day. against the importance of the church as a building within the village. All enjoyed the bells and a few don’t hear the clock. 18 had no Thus, in order to be a business, management of the main river in its many comments aspects will have to include stocking with reared fish, many of which are  10 believe it is an important building and it is important to have a rainbow trout, besides some which resemble the native brown trout. Migratory village church that is open to all salmon also exist in these main rivers, though their numbers over recent  2 highlight the history and church through a written history and decades are in decline and despite much research and monitoring no one seems through the tourist boards to know just yet exactly why.  9 wanted the church opened more to encourage the whole community However, whilst many know of the great river itself, not so many people are the opportunity to use it. aware of the Test’s tributaries, such as the Dever, the , Wallop (3 in this said could be a good idea to move the pews) Brook, , the Blackwater, and our own Pill Hill Brook. 1 “don’t move” the pews and add a loo so concerts can be held.  45 people said that they were interested in hearing more about what the The Pill Hill Brook flows into the by the A303 by-pass bridge Trust was doing. over Barlows Lane, where it is joined by Watery Lane, Upper Clatford. The  60 people attended the open day at the village hall. All the Trust Anton then joins the Test at Fullerton, just below the Seven Stars pub – now members, less our Treasurer who was abroad, were there to answer known as the Mayfly. questions. Members of the PCC attended, 2 local councillors, manager Having referred to the Test and Itchen being the cradle of fly-fishing, and this and assistant from the shop. may well be so, what doesn’t seem to be so widely appreciated – and 12 21 evening to view for those unable to attend. Not all speakers used it but it gives an insight. Jackie Stanton perversely not by the old National Rivers Authority, now the Environment Agency, and seemingly other bodies – is that the tributaries of these great (Editor’s Note: This was a really splendid evening and the organisers are to rivers are incredibly important as the cradle of the wild fish (as opposed to be congratulated!) stocked fish) which inhabit these wonderful, transparently-clear chalk-streams of ours.

Enquiries 01256-892019 or www.andovercats.org.uk Happily, the non-native rainbow trout and its hybrids, stocked in the Stories of rescued cats [email protected] commercial fisheries, tend not to reproduce easily in the wild. This is the Fund-raising/volunteers [email protected] domain of the native brown trout. In the autumn and early winter, during the Items for resale 01256-892773 close season for fishing, these adult fish move as far upstream as they can to spawn in the tributaries and their headwaters. So you can see how vitally Now that the holiday season is here we need to make sure that our cats are well important these brooks and rivulets are to the well-being and even the very looked after while we are away. If they are being cared for at home by a friend existence of their famous neighbours. or neighbour it is best that they are confined to the house with litter trays (one for each cat plus one extra). We often get reports of cats which have gone It follows that the management of these tributaries, including the Pill Hill missing while their owner is on holiday. They get lonely and wander off in Brook, needs to be as gentle and unobtrusive as it can be, so that the native search of human company. brown trout, such a beautiful and delicately-marked creature, can flourish as a truly wild fish. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of a genuinely wild Panda has not yet found a home but she has moved in with a house fosterer stretch of stream such as the Pill Hill Brook on the Test or any other large river which is much nicer than being in a pen. system. Indeed, it is something of a rarity.

Fudge is a delightful but strange little cat. Ginger female cats are quite rare. Management follows a yearly cycle, and this report is half-way through. The She is about 10 years old and came into care when her owner moved abroad. adult trout over the turn of the year will have mated and spawned, and the fry She doesn’t seem to like warm, comfy beds but sleeps in hatched will now be fingerling and upwards in size. Much else to tell another the coordinator’s conservatory in a cardboard box. She is time… reputed not to like other cats but completely ignores the At the time of writing, the first of the three weed-cut periods on the entire Test presence of her three current companions who are totally system has begun. These periods are in June, July and August, of an average non-aggressive. She loves to wander around the garden in of ten days for each of the five sectors spread downstream from the Test’s the sun and particularly likes to sit on this bench. She source at Ashe, north-east of Laverstoke, to the boom at Greatbridge, just south would make an excellent companion for a retired person. of Timsbury on the Stockbridge to Romsey road where the road swings right Martin Bevan over the Test and then left past the Duke’s Head pub. Here weed is dragged out by the Environment Agency’s mechanical digger. The sixth sector HISTORIC CHURCHES - RIDE AND STRIDE downstream goes to the sea in .

The sponsored “Ride and Stride” in aid of the Hampshire and Islands Historic The dates are annually agreed by the Test and Itchen Association – i.e. the Churches Trust will take place on Saturday 13th September this year. You can riparian owners, water-keepers, anglers – and the Environment Agency, so that cycle, walk or run, choosing safe country lanes. It is not a race but an all water-keepers cut their river weed and clear-off sluices, weirs and hatches opportunity to visit some of our lovely interesting local churches. Come and between these dates, allowing the cut weed to flow downstream. Thus, join us for an enjoyable day out. Half the money we raise will go to help spoiling of angling is minimised and confined to within these dates. If weed maintain our own church, St Mary’s. has to be cut at other times, due to prolific growth, special consent has to be Details and sponsorship forms are available from Pat Balam, Cygnet Cottage obtained, and no weed may be allowed to pass downstream to disturb the (Tel: 710040) Our team of young people from the village will be riding again fisheries. There are penalties if these rules are not observed. this year and will have a sponsorship form in the Village Shop. They are very Pulling the river weed out of the stream is extremely heavy work, thus it is keen. Please support them. Pat Balam eminently desirable to cut during the specified periods, moving upstream and 20 13

SUMMARY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE MEETING ON 21ST MAY merely allowing the cut weed to flow downstream and beyond to Greatbridge, st where the extraction is done mechanically. Thank you to those who attended the Countryside Presentation evening on 21 May. We hope you found it both interesting and educational. 42 people The weed-cut dates apply only to river weed, not bankside vegetation. attended, 22 have signed up for information on future activities, 6 have Bankside growth, sub-aquatic, semi-aquatic and above-water reeds and so on, indicated they would like to be more involved with the group. provide cover for fish from predators – for example, herons, otters, and man – as well as providing habitat for all manner of bugs and other invertebrates that • Footpaths – Phil Wood form the fishes’ larder. When banksides within these waterside habitat and Phil is offering a summer evening walk, possibly along the lesser- known footpaths of the area. cover margins are cut, on no account may cuttings be allowed to fall into the river system. Decaying vegetation, in the form of cut grass, can leech • Farming – Matthew Reed extremely toxic by-products into the river. Matthew is happy to organise a farm visit. From crop to grain, visit a dairy farm or something similar. TBC Riverside grass-mowings heaps are particularly dangerous. We are talking of toxicity levels of half a part per million – and that’s to fish. When you • Flora and Fauna – John and Julie Moon consider sub-aquatic invertebrates are far more sensitive and the Pill Hill Meadow/ woodland walks taking in the natural habitat and flowers.

Brook, in an average year, flows at something like eight million gallons a day, • Vitacress Farm Visit – Ron Bainbridge you can understand how fragile a habitat it is. Bankside owners – please be Ron is staging a night for the TARCA group on Saturday 21st June, careful how you dispose of your lawn-mowings, and of where you locate and he could possibly shoehorn a few people in the same evening, this compost heaps. These may be very beneficial to your gardening, but could will be on a first come first served basis. easily poison the river! He will be offering the Countryside group an alternate date. TBC. So, in ideal conditions, the keeper of a river such as the Pill Hill Brook, takes a Please note the above only include basic details, some may differ when scythe on a long pole, dons chest-waders and inflatable braces or lifejacket, planned but we will keep you up to date once confirmed. Polaroid glasses to see better through the surface of the stream, slips a whetstone into his wader pocket, and climbs down into the lower end of the If you are interested in any of the activities please send the title of the activity section to be cut. He works upstream and the weed flows easily away behind eg Farming, along with your email address and telephone number to him. [email protected] so we may start planning future events.

This year, the conditions have not been that ideal. Passage of cut weed through PLANNED ACTIVITIES Little Ann to Little Ann Bridge would have been blocked after the storm and winds of 14 th February, by one hawthorn, six willows, sixteen poplars, three Wildlife walk Saturday 5th July. alders, seven more willows, and an unkempt tangle of rooted-in willows and an The walk will concentrate on identifying summer wild flowers, we will also ash-tree beyond to Little Ann Bridge. These had in the main been blown into attempt to identify any trees, birds and butterflies that we come across. the river. This discounts something in the order of one hundred and fifty to Starting point is outside the village shop at 10.00am and everyone is welcome. two hundred poplars in the former plantation which, roots weakened by the The walk will be about 4 miles, via the Dunkirt Lane barn, and will be floods, lost their footing and blew down in a matter of an hour or so within the followed by an optional lunch at the Eagle. plantation, like children’s Pick-a-sticks. For more info contact John or Julie Moon 710123

The aerial photographs of “before”, by Busty Taylor some fifteen years ago, An Evening Countryside Walk Thursday 10 th July and “after” by Robbie Morgan this spring show the damage to the plantation Explore some of the countryside close to Abbotts Ann taking about 2 hours and to the river. Some stiles – possibly muddy if weather has been wet! In the “after”, you will see how flooded the water meadows in Little Ann were Meet 6-30pm outside Village Shop in March/April, and deceptively marshy and dangerous on foot. The current in For more info contact Phil Wood 710844 the river is even now very powerful. Access for wheeled vehicles has only just We hope to put the Power Point Presentation on the village website of the been possible in places. It has been a race against time to clear the river 14 19

sufficiently for weed to pass. All the trees in the river have been cut up in situ or cut and dragged out by Land Rover. There are several, very large, poplars still across the river, but now without branches. As the water level drops, so the land beside will become firmer and will allow a tractor nearer, in the next few weeks. I hope.

Without this clearance, river weed from all the way upstream would have resulted in a massive dam and consequential flooding. As it is, the river-banks are still piled with extracted trunks, logs, branches and foliage, all needing to be moved off to piles in the meadow. The brushwood has to be burnt before it roots and grows in, creating future problems. The trunks and logs are available for firewood…

I am enormously grateful to those who have helped so far in this major task – David, Tony, Paul, Steve, Richard, Arthur, Jono-not-Bono, James, Rosemary, Christopher, Rick, Isaac, Dave and Julian, and Ron’s patience in deferring the Cress Farm’s cut a couple of days to allow us to complete the principal clearance.

It is heavy work, but it is worth the punctured waders and physical exertion, with the good company and laughter, being in the open air, looking after our special piece of English countryside, that we all share: the sights of the darting young fish – trout and grayling, sunken logs brought up covered in wriggling gamarus (freshwater shrimps) and caddis-fly larvae – all signs of a healthy stream being reinvigorated, sedgeflies, mayfly and all manner of other fly life; the sounds of buzzards, great spotted and green woodpeckers; the evidence of water-voles; and the sight of the kingfishers streaking their irridescent blue upstream – you can’t paint them, you can’t photograph their brilliance, you have to see them.

That’s the privilege we all have as custodians of this fragile yet amazingly rewarding and beautiful part of our England.

I look forward to telling you and shewing you more about the Pill Hill Brook and anyone who would like to come and see it for yourself and help restore this most important natural part of our village heritage will be very welcome!

Bernard Griffiths “ An evening with Alan Titchmarsh” On Tuesday 29 th July 2014 – 1815 for 1900 at The Old Rectory Abbotts Ann is SOLD OUT Thank you to all those supporting your church 18 15

Abbotts Ann Players Presents

A new play by the village’s own Helena Jane Kirby.

Amateur productions rarely go smoothly, and this one is no exception. Throw in a wardrobe, the WI and trophy and what’s left is one big tangle.

TH “BEFORE” AND “AFTER” FRIDAY 11 JULY 6.15PM FOR A 7.00PM START SATURDAY 12 TH JULY 5.45PM FOR A 6.30PM START

The Open Air Amphitheatre at Abbotts Ann Primary School

ADULTS £6, CONCESSIONS £5

Tickets Available From Village Shop June 23 rd

Blankets, Picnics and Wine Welcome 16 17